1. Nationalism in Latin America

2. Latin American Economy

3. Role of the United States
In the early 20th century, Latin American economies were based on exports of foodstuffs and raw materials
In the 1920s, the United States replaced Britain as the major investor in Latin America
US investors put money directly into production facilities and ran the companies
As nations became independent, their economies still relied on wealthier nations

4. Role of the United States
Many Latin Americans began to resent US control of Latin American industries
This resentment increased nationalistic feelings
For ex: US oil companies had close ties to the dictator Juan Vicente Gómez
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the Good Neighbor Policy, which rejected the use of US military force in Latin America
Withdrew last US troops from Haiti in 1934

5. Impact of Great Depression
Weak US and European economies meant there was less demand for Latin American exports
Total value of Latin American exports dropped 50% from 1925 to 1930
Positive effect: as exports declined, Latin American countries no longer had the revenue to buy manufactured goods from abroad, so they developed industries within the nations to produce those goods
Government had to invest in these new industries, which lead to government-run steel industries in Chile and Brazil and oil industries in Mexico and Argentina

6. Authoritarian Rule

7. Argentina
Controlled by an oligarchy (government run by a select group of people) of wealthy landowners
Ignored the growing middle class, which reacted by forming the Radical Party in 1890, led by Hipólito Irigoyen
Irigoyen was elected president in 1916, but the party feared industrial workers who were using strikes to improve their conditions
Party grew closer to landowners and became corrupt

8. Argentina
1930  Argentine army overthrew Irigoyen and reestablished the oligarchy
During WWII, some military officers formed the Group of United Officers (GUO) and overthrew the government in 1943
Established Juan Perón as president

9. Brazil
1889  army overthrew the Brazilian monarchy and established a republic
Controlled by elite landowners of large coffee plantations
Great Depression destroyed the coffee industry; by 1929, coffee prices hit an all-time low
1930  a military coup made Getúlio Vargas president of Brazil
Ruled from
Established an 8-hour workday and a minimum wage

10. Brazil
In 1937, Vargas made himself a dictator and in 1938, established a new state
Political parties were outlawed and civil rights were restricted
Vargas tried to stimulate the economy by establishing a Brazilian steel industry and set up a company to explore for oil
In 1945, the army, fearing that Vargas might prolong his rule illegally, forced him to resign

11. Mexico
Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century was the first attempt to overturn the system of large landed estates and raise the standard of living for everyone
Government was democratic in form, but the main party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (IRP), controlled the major groups within Mexico
IRP chose the candidates and the public would dutifully elect them

12. Mexico Lázaro Cárdenas became president in 1934 and began changes
Distributed 44 million acres of land to landless Mexican peasants
He seized control of the oil fields and the property of the foreign-owned oil companies in an attempt to rid Mexico of US influence
Eventually Mexico paid the oil companies for their property and set up PEMEX, a national oil company to run the oil industry
At first, PEMEX did not do well, with exports falling
PEMEX remained a sign of Mexican independence to the people

13. Culture in Latin America
In major cities, such as Buenos Aires, Argentina and São Paulo, Brazil, wealthy elite expressed interest in the works of modern artists
Artists went abroad and brought back modern techniques and blended them with their roots
Roberto Matta and Carlos Merida created abstract art
Diego Rivera of Mexico used his work to promote a nationalistic spirit
Rivera wanted to create a national art that would portray Mexico’s past, festivals, and folk customs
Rivera’s work was considered controversial in the US
Rockefeller hired Rivera to paint a mural at Rockefeller Center, but destroyed it when Rivera included a picture of Lenin